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British naval airman and officer trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1939-1940; officer served as pilot with 818 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Mediterranean and Atlantic, 1940-1941; served with 820 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Indian Ocean, 1942.

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REEL 1 Background in Swinton and Kelson, GB, 1919-1939: family; education. Recollections of enlistment and training as naval airman with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1939-1940: background to enlistment, 1939; early interest in flying; basic training at HMS St Vincent, Gosport, 9/1939-11/1939; opinion of training, accommodation and rations; pattern of training; start of flying training and familiarisation flight; attitude to flying training; degree of skill needed prior to soloing; contact with civilians; flying kit worn.
REEL 2 Continues: move to RAF Netheravon; character of North American Harvard; formation flying; refusal to make parachute drop; pattern of training; conversion of aircraft to carry bombs at Netheravon, 6/1940; awareness of progress of war; navigation training; commissioning at end of course; relations between officers and other ranks. Aspects of period of training as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1940: attending fighter school; opinion of Fleet Air Arm fighter aircraft; incidents of encounters with German aircraft during training at Eastleigh; requesting to fly torpedo bombers; lack of deck landing training.
REEL 3 Continues: move to Abbotsinch for torpedo training; character of Fairey Swordfish; flying kit worn; torpedo training; crash landing caused by sugar in fuel tank. Recollections of operations as pilot with 818 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Ark Royal in Mediterranean and Atlantic, 1940-1941: initial impressions of aircraft carrier; reception on arrival; ashore in Gibraltar; layout of carrier; naval duties; relations between Fleet Air Arm and Royal Navy personnel; senior officers; accommodation; anti-submarine patrols in Mediterranean; question of locating carrier after patrol; Axis air attacks in Mediterranean; reaction to torpedoing of HMS Ark Royal.
REEL 4 Continues: aircrew relations; shore duties on return to GB after sinking of carrier from 11/1941; story of recieving prize money for capture of submarine supply ship; duration of flights in Fairey Swordfish; role of carrier with Force H; reaction to sinking of HMS Hood by Bismarck, 5/1941; hunt for Bismarck, 5/1941; opinion of Fairey Swordfish's ability to operate in poor weather conditions; origin of Fairey Swordfish's nickname of 'Stringbag'; orders to attack Bismarck.
REEL 5 Continues: reasons for accidental attack on HMS Sheffield; weather conditions on approach to Bismarck; under anti-aircraft fire from Bismarck; breaking cloud cover and sighting Bismarck; his torpedo attack on Bismarck; keeping at low level and turning away after releasing torpedo; question of whose torpedo hit the Bismarck; sight of crew of Bismarck in water after sinking; attitude to participating in attack. Aspects of period as deck officer with 820 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Formidable in Indian Ocean, 1942: background to joining carrier; role of deck officer.
REEL 6 Continues: climatic conditions; off duty activities on board and ashore. Reflections on service with Fleet Air Arm, 1939-1945: parent's reaction to his joining Royal Navy; attitude to end of Second World War, 1945; question of staying on in Fleet Air Arm; opinion of Fleet Air Arm; attitude to participation in Second World War; attitude towards Germans.

Over two million American servicemen passed through Britain during the Second World War. In 1944, at the height of activity, up to half a million were based there with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Their job was to man and maintain the vast fleets of aircraft needed to attack German cities and industry.